Marianne (Pizzutti) Corbo, 81, of Newtown, died peacefully, with family at her side, on August 26, 2023.

Marianne was born September 14, 1941, a daughter of Anne and Dominick Pizzutti. The family lived in Port Chester, N.Y., at the time of her birth, and then lived in Mamaroneck, N.Y., during World War II.

The family later moved to Mt Vernon, N.Y., and Marianne attended Graham Elementary & Junior High School. She graduated from Edison Vocational & Technical High School, in Mt Vernon, in 1959. She was captain of the school’s cheerleading squad.

She met Joe Corbo while they were both in high school, and the two attended senior prom together.

Marianne graduated from high school in 1959. She and Joe were wed three years later, in June 1962.

The Corbos lived in Mt Vernon for a few more years, moving to Newtown in 1968, when they purchased a farm on Mile Hill Road South.

She was predeceased by the love of her life, Joseph Corbo. They had been married over 30 years when he died in 1993. Marianne told her family she never felt comfortable dating after that.

She was also predeceased by two brothers, Raymond and Thomas.

She is survived by a son, Joseph Jr, of Chicago; son and daughter-in-law Ray and Elaine Corbo, of Newtown; and a daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Jon DelPozo, also of Newtown; grandchildren Madison DelPozo, Joseph Corbo, Makenzie DelPozo, Caroline DelPozo, Cassidy DelPozo, and Isabelle Corbo; her sisters Phyllis and Judith, and brother Martin.

Among her first jobs was as a key punch operator. She also received secretarial training while working for corporations, and then began a multi-decade career in the Newtown Public School system in 1969. She worked in the middle school building initially, while the new Newtown High School building was under construction and high school classes were conducted on Queen Street.

She moved to Newtown High School when the new building opened on Berkshire Road.

Marianne stepped away from her work in 1971 to begin her family. Marianne and Joe continued doing everything together, as had been the case since high school.

Now with three children, Joe and Marianne made sure Joe Jr, Ray and Jennifer had responsibilities that included taking care of the menagerie of farm animals. There was always an annual family camping trip to Cape Cod, yet Joe and Marianne would also make time to go out together in his 1956 Ford.

After her husband opened Newtown Feed & Cider Mill on Sugar Street, it wasn’t long before Marianne joined Joe there, greeting and serving customers and doing bookkeeping.

Marianne returned to the school system in 1980 and began working for pupil personnel in the central office.

She returned to NHS and its Attendance Office in 1988, and in 1993 she became a secretary in the main office. She was the main office secretary at the time of her retirement in 2006.

Not one to stay idle for long, Marianne went back to work in November 2014. She worked part-time at TJ Maxx until July 2023.

Marianne was kind and positive, always encouraging to everyone she met, and loved to dance. She was usually the first on the dance floor at special events.

Her family has been comforted in recent weeks, hearing from many who have shared stories of Marianne’s positive impact on their lives. Two decades of working in the school system has led to multiple teachers and former students reaching out and sharing stories Marianne’s family had not heard until now.

Marianne enjoyed being very active at Newtown Senior Center. Her family has been told she was the best line dancer.

She loved to go to all of her grandchildren’s sporting events. She was always their biggest cheerleader from the sidelines.

She was also very active at St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church. She was a lector for many years, and volunteered for many years during the parish carnival and other events. She also filled in for Sister Mary Ellen for the Bethany Mass when Sister Mary Ellen was unable to be there. Sister Mary Ellen said she always knew she could count on Marianne.

She was a catechist, and taught religious education.

Following the death of her dear husband in 1993, Marianne attended a bereavement group for the divorced or widowed, Beginning Experience (BE). She signed up for a weekend event at Mt Alvernia Church in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., and before the end of that weekend she was invited to become a team member because of how she brought light and hope to the weekend.

She was a very active member and gave much of herself for the next 15 years. During that time she met other incredible women who became family, spending time together, whether going to a BE convention (her favorite) or across the country on personal trips with each other.

The family will welcome friends and visitors during calling hours, which have been scheduled for Tuesday, September 5, from 4 to 7 pm, at Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street.

A Funeral Mass is planned for Wednesday, September 6, at 11 am, at St Rose Church, 46 Church Hill Road. Burial will follow at St Rose Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Newtown Hook & Ladder Company, 12 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470 or newtownhookandladder.com/donate. Marianne was very proud of the involvement of her son Ray, the company’s current chief, and grandson Joey, in the town’s oldest volunteer fire company.